A tale of two inspirations: How Crystal Palace borrowed from Spain’s soccer giants
The English club’s kit underwent several modifications, the last of which was down to a coach who decided to copy Barcelona’s kit.
This evening’s Europa Conference League final carries a distinctly Spanish vibe — not only because Rayo Vallecano is one of the team that will be taking to the field, but because their opponents, Crystal Palace has long been influenced by the giants of Spanish soccer.
From the club’s earliest days, the London side kept a close eye on teams from Spain, especially when it came to choosing its look.
Until 1964, Palace cycled through different color schemes. That changed when the club adopted an all‑white kit inspired directly by Real Madrid. As Madrid’s global reputation soared, Palace’s leadership decided it was smart to emulate the clean, dominant look of the Bernabéu powerhouse.
Allison, the pioneer
Everything shifted again in 1973 with the arrival of manager Malcolm Allison. His early seasons weren’t spectacular, but he transformed the club’s style, revamped its nickname, and — in a move that still defines Palace today — redesigned the uniform. If the previous kit paid homage to Madrid, the new one drew inspiration from its eternal rival: FC Barcelona.
Allison introduced the now‑iconic blue‑and‑red combination, giving Palace a bold, modern identity. Even the second kit carried a Spanish imprint: white, crossed by two diagonal stripes — one blue, one claret — echoing Barça’s unmistakable colors.
Spanish soccer isn’t just a footnote in Crystal Palace’s story. It’s woven into the club’s DNA, right down to the shirts they’ll wear when they step onto the field at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig later today.
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